Federal Board of Revenue’s Karachi Model Customs Collectorate (Appraisement) has issued a list of 97 suspected importers that are allegedly involved in under-invoicing, wrong declaration of good and illegal removal of good from container terminals in Karachi, Profit learnt on Monday. Documents made available to Profit indicate the Model Customs Collectorate (MCC) deputy collector Omer Shafique has directed all examination and appraising officials to thoroughly scrutinise import documents and consignment imported by any of these importers. He has also directed that the cancellation and amendment in good declaration and the manifest pertaining to these importers should also be intimated to the appraisement collectorate before its approval.
However, sources pointed out that instead of appreciating the efforts of the customs officials, these importers and some high-ranking political and FBR officials were putting pressures on customs department to immediately withdraw the list of suspected importers. Official circular shows that importers allegedly involved in illegal removal of goods from M/S Pak Shaheeen Off Dock Container Terminal, Karachi, includes Zam Zam Traders, Bakhshi Engineering Works, Punjab Autos, Yaqoob Traders, Trading House, Shahrukh Enterprises, Babar Enterprises, Sikandar Traders, Khadim Motors, Haji Razzak Haji Ismail, Haji Ibrahim Haji Ismail, Nizami Motors, F J Trading Corporation, Khalid Auto Corporation, Kauser Enterprises, Union Auto Corporation, Zaman Traders, Ashfaq Ahmed, Automate Industries (Pvt) Ltd, Uzair Enterprises, Al Qamar Motors, Munir Motor Storage, Bilal Electronic, Universal Auto Engineering, Hino Autos, United Motors, Mach Parts, J R International, Shan International, Al Hilal Motor Stores, Zahid Impex, Home Impex, Naseeb Traders, Mubashir Brothers, Mukati Corporation, Noor Zeb Traders, Sohajee Shaikhjee & Sons, Shahid Automobiles, Zahoor Sons, Bilal Traders, M A Khan & Co, Saad Autos, Naeem Traders, Tahir Enterprises, Afaque & Co, Food Links International, Fine Traders, Imran Agencies, A S Traders, Haji Autos, Shahzad Enterprises, Gul Brothers, World Trading & Communication, Makkah Madina Traders, Amir Asim & Co, Asif Enterprises, Aftab Impex, Ali & Co, M Y Iqbal & Co, Universal Traders, Off Road Diesel Spares, M S Enterprises, Omer Trade Corporation, A I M Corporation, Swan International, SBS Group of Companies, Shariq Enterprises, Orient Automobiles, Progressive Business, Ali Enterprises, SQM Import & Export Enterprises, Saqib Traders, Mohammad Sohail, Techno, Sharafat Brothers, Raamis Impex, F S Enterprises, OSM Engineering, Pearl Trade Corporation, Kohinoor Traders, Zam Zam Auto Traders, Suhaib Traders, Jilani International, Nayab Fashion, N A Enterprises, A Z Enterprises, Mutahar Corporation, Kaleem Enterprises, Pak Asia Impex, Waqas Traders, Salman Traders, Kashif & Co, Technology Leaders, Ali Enterprises, Amir Traders and Huzefa Brothers. Though, most of these importers are supplying engineer components to automobile industry. But, industry leaders have appreciated the move as it would curb anti-competition practices. Speaking to Profit, an auto manufacturer underscored that declaring lower weight of auto parts cause major duty reduction by not following SRO 329 that mandates clearance of goods at their actual weight. These consignments are cleared in units either or at lower weight to save actual duty and taxes. He elaborated that wrong specification of imported goods might illegally lower their duties as goods are cleared under wrong Pakistan Customs Tariff (PCT) heading, which saves additional duty / anti-dumping duty. This practice hits the local industries, including auto parts vendors besides resulting in substantial revenue loss to national exchequer.
